United States Drug Enforcement Administration

RALEIGH, N.C. – The United States Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Robert J. Higdon, Jr., announced that today in federal court, United States District Judge James C. Dever, III sentenced Samuel Monserrate-Garcia, 55, of Midway Park, North Carolina and Victor Rodriguez, 41, of Jacksonville, North Carolina for their roles in distributing methamphetamine in the Jacksonville area.

On Aug. 7, 2018, Monserrate-Garcia pled guilty to Conspiracy to Distribute and Possess With Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine (Count One) and Possession With Intent to Distribute 50 grams or More of Methamphetamine and Aiding and Abetting (Count Two) and today he was sentenced to 120 months imprisonment followed by 5 years of supervised release. Also on Aug. 7, 2018, Rodriguez pled guilty to Possession With Intent to Distribute 50 Grams or More of Methamphetamine and Aiding and Abetting, and today he was sentenced to 120 months of imprisonment followed by five years of supervised release.

Monserrate-Garcia and Rodriguez had been charged by the grand jury for the Eastern District of North Carolina in a Second Superseding Indictment filed on March 28, 2018.

On Oct. 6, 2016, members of the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office determined that Monserrate-Garcia and Rodriguez were attempting to sell crystal methamphetamine from a hotel in Jacksonville, North Carolina.

On Oct. 7, 2016, officers executed a search warrant at the hotel room. Officers seized two bags containing a total of 95.97 grams of 99% pure methamphetamine, as well as marijuana, cocaine, and a digital scale.

An individual indicated that Monserrate-Garcia had agreed to distribute six kilograms of pure methamphetamine for him.

This prosecution is part of an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. OCDETF is a joint federal, state, and local cooperative approach to combat drug trafficking and is the nation’s primary tool for disrupting and dismantling major drug trafficking organizations, targeting national and regional level drug trafficking organizations, and coordinating the necessary law enforcement entities and resources to disrupt or dismantle the targeted criminal organization and seize their assets. The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Onslow County Sheriff’s Office conducted the criminal investigation of this case. Assistant United States Attorney Scott A. Lemmon handled the prosecution of this case for the government.

The DEA encourages parents, along with their children, to educate themselves about the dangers of legal and illegal drugs by visiting DEA’s interactive websites at www.justthinktwice.com, www.GetSmartAboutDrugs.com and www.dea.gov. Also follow DEA Atlanta via Twitter at @DEAATLANTADiv.

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